Vote for Fred?

I updated this post to add some pictures. I wish you could see better the looks on our faces.

They only pay 46c/pound for aluminum here. That's about 1/3 of what they paid in soCal! Funny because people here in CO are often "green." Maybe they don't need the same incentives as they do in CA to recycle?

Gas is up to $2.85. What's up with that? Labor Day is over... bring those prices back down!

We got our license plates today. That process is really strange. For the Pilot, since it has a lien on it, we had to get a VIN Verification Report from a dealership or sheriff, and bring that with proof of insurance and the registration. Since it is in Ro's name, he had to do it personally, which was a challenge with his work schedule. For the Sentra, the previous owners keep the plates, so we couldn't legally drive it until we got new plates. We had to bring the title, POI, and sales receipt to get those plates. Crazy. Once we got everything we needed though and made it in to the DMV it was relatively painless, although expensive. We got the Columbine plates. Thankfully it didn't take as long as getting our licenses or Ro wouldn't have made it to work on time.

We have had such a good experience with the POD thing - until now. We are having the hardest time getting them to come out here and get their crate that has been sitting empty now for two weeks. It's really been frustrating.

I got my plane tickets for Cali next month. :) Exciting. I'm not sure how we're going to work things all out on the Coli end but we'll figure out something.

G is developing such a personality. She is so impish and precocious. Her facial expressions crack me up. She is generally pretty easy going and adapts well to all kinds of situations. However, this morning... she pitched a fit in WalMart. I was proud of myself for staying calm! I attribute that only to having had three kids. She is really something, though. She's talking endlessly now. I only wish I could understand a third of what she is saying. :)

I can't believe how Miss C is growing up. She looks so mature. Her friend at school has a boyfriend. I'm so not ready for that. I'm trying to remind C that there is lots and lots of time for that... LATER. Much later! And J... that kid is too smart for me.

Have you seen Paintjam Dan? This guy is incredible. Thanks, Carrie, for the link.

It's sprinkling on and off this morning, overcast and cool. This weather is my favorite. I don't think it'll last long, though; we're supposed to get up to a sweltering 79 today. ;)

Interesting Tidbits from the News:

• Dr. D. James Kennedy passed away yesterday. He evidently had a rough final year, so it's good for him that he's in heaven now. I used to enjoy his teachings on the old KAVC.


• Luciano Pavarotti died this morning.


• I see Fred Thompson has finally announced he's going to join into the race for President. I would love to hear your comments on that.

Settling into a Routine

One of the sacrifices we did make by coming here was Robert's cushy job schedule. He worked M-F 7:30-4, although he'd usually be home earlier. He was close enough to come home for lunch everyday and he could e-mail me frequently. If the kids had something going on at school, his schedule was flexible enough to allow for him to attend that. They really worked with him to accommodate whatever outside-of-work needs we had.

Now he has a real job, a job where he works a full 8 hours. It's 20 miles away so it's too far to come home for lunch. He can't call me or e-mail me. His schedule rotates, too, so sometimes he'll be home by 6, but sometimes, like last night, not until 7:30 or so. At least it's still M-F. I really can't complain. I have many friends whose husbands work much more than that or have to work weekends. I just got spoiled with his old schedule, that's all.

Plus he's the low guy on the totem pole now. Even asking for a day off in October (so I could go to CA without the kids) was frowned upon. Forget about asking for Christmas Eve off so we could go to CA for the weekend through Christmas. :( It's kind of a shame because his 14 years with this company don't mean much here I guess.

Oh well... the benefits outweigh the... what is the antonym for benefit, anyway? All I can think of is con, and that isn't right. The pros outweigh the cons, I guess. LOL

Both kids continue to enjoy school. C is really loving the whole junior high thing and came home yesterday excited about her first school dance coming up in November. She is learning to type in her computer class. So is J, in his, actually. And she continues to enjoy band. J went to his first GT class - we called it GATE at home - and enjoyed doing the "mental gym" exercises they went through. We are settling into a routine that seems to be working well.

I'm making some changes in my mind as to how I want this place set up. I've decided to move my "scrap studio" (don't you love it?) to the basement where the kitchenette was located with the previous owners here. The loft will be our computer / book area and for now also houses the TV. G is busy watching Wonder Pets as I type. Well, actually, the show is on, but she is busy emptying my box of office supplies onto the floor. She has a particular penchant for paperclips and pens.

But it's slowly coming together I guess. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I can't believe we've been here for two weeks already. Time has sure flown. The timing has been perfect with the kids starting school and Ro work though. It's all good.

Be Vewy, Vewy Quiet...

It's so quiet here I can hear a neighbor's alarm going off. I can hear the fizz in my soda can, and a cricket or two outside. (They'd better be outside!)

Everyone's gone but G and me, and she's asleep. The Wigglets are at school, Ro at work, and of course Mom, Pop, and Deb had to leave yesterday. I loved having the house full of noise... full of family. It was so hard to see them go. I felt like I got a freebie, a free gift - a visit that was a total surprise and quite unexpected and I'll treasure it! I hated them leaving, but at least I am reassured that it's doable, quite doable - family visits!

I missed writing yesterday, but Deb... man... she's a machine. She crawls out of bed (complaining about how early it is), and before she's even fully awake, she's at work. Not only did she accomplish Ro's Honey-Do list for the weekend on Friday before he even got home from work, but she accomplished things I didn't have planned until next spring! She goes from sun-up to sun-down. Man ~ when we lived in Palmdale she'd come over and sleep on my couch some afternoons. She didn't do that this weekend until she'd put in a full 12 or 14 hours of work.

So I felt too guilty to come in here and blog while she's working on my house, you know? :) She did bring me papers to grade, though! So I did a little work for her, too, while she was here. (Not much though compared to what she did!)

Unfortunately on Sunday, the buffet from Saturday and/or all the walking Pop did and/or the stairs he climbed and/or the work he did... whatever the cause... Pop didn't feel well much of Sunday. He stayed home and rested most of the day. He seemed better yesterday, though, and for that I'm very grateful. He slept well here, and ate well, except for Sunday.

Sunday we had lunch at Black-eyed Pea. Mmmm.... then off to America's Furniture Warehouse to snag a kitchen table and chairs. Yay! We could finally put away the card table we've been using. Or, I suppose I could keep it in the dining room. ;) Anyway, it's a farm-style set in white and oak. I love it. We had to rent a U-Haul trailer to bring it home, but we got it. Mom and I went to return the trailer and by the time we got back, Debthemachine and Ro had it all set up and put together. Unfortunately I have to return two chairs, but it is what it is.

We got some more things done around the house and played a couple games of Aggravation. Pop and I beat Mom and Deb both games. Gotta love that! Sure was nice to take a break from Debthemachine's work schedule and relax with some marbles and dice. Fun!

Would you believe that as soon as the game was over (like 10:30p?), Debthemachine stood up and started moving boxes?!?!

We enjoyed Labor Day yesterday, too. We worked around the house (I graded papers and did laundry) until lunchtime, and went back to the Black-eyed Pea for lunch (this one here in town). We followed that with a couple of errands and came home to make ice cream, gather luggage, and get them ready to go. We managed to get another game of Aggravation in (Pop and I let them win this time so they wouldn't go home upset) before having some ice cream, and then... time to say TTFN.

It was hard. C takes it really hard. She was so emotional and weepy all afternoon. I'm going to look into bringing her with me when I come to CA in October, a little Mom-Daughter trip. We'll see.

They ran into some traffic delays and got the car returned and to the airport just in time. They called me when they landed in LA and they made it home fine. :: sigh :: Wish they were still here!

Several of our neighbors gathered together for a Labor Day BBQ last night. I wasn't much in the mood to be social, but I made myself go, and I'm glad we did. I really enjoyed sitting outside in the perfect weather and getting to know some of the neighbors. The kids played and the adults chatted. It really was a great time.

This friendly-neighbor thing is so new to us! :) We are so blessed, though. I didn't see other gatherings like ours through the neighborhood. I got to thinking that God even brought us to this part of the street, to these neighbors... We were originally very interested in another house down the street, but God worked this house out for us. Isn't that neat? This house, these neighbors, these schools... I am overwhelmed by His tremendous love for us! Aren't you?

Prayer needs:

• My cousin's young son D had a bicycle accident this weekend and is pretty beat up. No broken bones but he has a lot of pain and had a concussion. His mouth is so sore he can't really even eat. Please pray for him to heal quickly!

Sunday at Wiggy House

My house is full of people and it is such a blessing.

And there's lots and lots of room! Before we moved, if Mom, Pop, and Deb came over - it would be a crowded house. We'd eat on the couches in the living room with the kids on the floor. Right now C and J are playing happily in the basement (can you believe that?), Pop is napping in the living room, Mom is working in the kitchen, Deb and Ro are installing ceiling fans in the bedrooms, and G is... G is... Where is G? You could lose a kid in this place, Ro says, and he's right. Oh yeah, she's napping as well.

There are a few houses for sale in this neighborhood. Oh, how I wish they'd stay. I think Pop doesn't mind it so much but isn't too sure about how the winter will go. I can't blame him there, I guess. But oh how perfect this place would be if the people I loved were here with me.

Yesterday we were sure busy but we didn't get as much done. We did a lot of shopping, had lunch at Golden Corral (we used to have one in Lancaster but it's gone now; this was okay but not what we'd remembered), hung out at the mall for a bit, bought a car (YES!), and came home to install ceiling fans.

Fan #1 turned out to be more of a pain than expected, but they got it installed finally after a couple of hours. They began installing the other two fans when they found that there's no support beam so it would have to wait. Then they started checking out the fan in C's room which seemed really loose, and same thing - not installed correctly. So this morning Ro and Deb were up in the attic getting it all figured out, Ro went off to Home Depot again, and they've been working on getting them fixed up ever since. They got J's done, and right now they're fixing C's. G's will have to wait until after lunch I suppose.

Yes, we snagged a car, finally. It's an older Nissan Sentra, pretty clean, ran very well, excellent price. Ro has been looking for a small or mid-sized truck but nothing has turned up. We'll just keep our eyes open for down the line, but right now we need to get him to work next week!

Funny thing... it's rained nearly every day since we got here, but not a drop since my family has arrived. Pretty warm right now, too, so I'm looking forward to those fans. I suspect we'll have the a/c installed only to use it for a week or so before it cools off though. LOL That's how we work, you know.

I need to take pictures... and post pictures...